Rossi Strengthens Team for Stretch Run

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 23, 2010) - The Rocco Rossi mayoral campaign added key political experience for the campaign's stretch run today by naming veteran Toronto political organizer Bernie Morton as its new campaign manager, effective immediately. Morton will lead a broad coalition of Liberal, Conservative and non-partisan supporters who will ask Torontonians to take a chance on real change in the mayor's office this fall. He replaces Sachin Aggarwal, who remains with the campaign as Director of Policy.

"I am delighted to welcome Bernie Morton aboard, just as Torontonians are focusing on who will make us proud as mayor," said Rocco Rossi. "The real issues in this campaign are trust and the need for new blood at City Hall. Bernie's experience will help me get these messages across to Torontonians."

"I am excited to join the Rossi campaign and eager to tell Rocco's story," said Morton. "Our goal is victory. Like most Torontonians, I believe real change is needed at City Hall. It is time to restore people's faith in City Hall with a leader who is known for his honesty, integrity, overcoming tough challenges and getting the job done. That person is Rocco Rossi."

Morton, a veteran of several campaigns, said that in the coming days and weeks additional experienced staff will formally join the Rossi campaign as voters prepare to go to the polls on October 25th.

Rossi thanked Aggarwal for his contribution as manager saying "Adding Bernie and keeping Sachin is a true win-win for the campaign."

In his new role Aggarwal will oversee the development of the Rossi policy platform for release later this fall.

Rossi said his campaign is united and ready for the post Labour Day sprint to the finish. "Every day I meet more and more Torontonians who want an alternative to the current front runners," said Rossi. "That's why I am telling voters to take a chance on change and vote for me."

BERNIE MORTON

Bernie Morton has experience operating at all three levels of government. Bernie provides strategic counsel and communications services at Sussex Strategy and is also the Vice President of the Public Affairs Association of Canada.

Bernie has held a variety of political campaign positions over two decades. In the 2006 and 2008 federal elections he played a central campaign role for the Conservative Party of Canada. In Ontario's 2007 election, Bernie sat on the Ontario P.C. campaign committee. He also serves as Vice President of the Public Affairs Association of Canada.

His experience and talents have won him recognition in the U.S. with the respected Campaigns & Elections' Politics Magazine. He was awarded a "Finalist" distinction in the magazine's annual Reed Awards for his 2008 federal election GOTV plan. He was a judge for the 2010 Reed Awards and most recently was appointed to head and launch the magazine's Canadian edition as Associate Editor. He was recently selected by the U.S. based Campaigns & Elections Politics Magazine to launch the Canadian edition of the magazine and run the Canadian operations as their Associate Editor.